Teamwork will be of the utmost importance for the Tuks women’s indoor volleyball team if they want to win the USSA-title next week in Johannesburg.
According to Dominique Gachet at any given time a volleyball team is only as good as its weakest player.
“It means as a team we truly have to bond and be able to trust each other every minute on the court.”
Tuks lost during last year’s USSA quarterfinals. It was quite a disappointment as they had won all their pool games. In 2016 they lost out in the final to TUT.
Natalie Vogel (captain) predicts that the University of the Western Cape and TUT will be the teams to beat. However, she is confident that if she and her teammates can keep their composure, they are good enough to contest the final.
Vogel who is a fifth-year veterinary science student is an attacking utility player. Apart from making sure that the teams get to score she sees her role as making sure that the team morale is at a high.
“We tend to hang our head when we were losing points that is where I as a captain need to step in. Reading the game and constantly readjusting our tactics is also important.”
Gachet is in her own words not only one of the spikers but also doubles up as an unofficial on-court cheerleader.
“I can’t help myself. I get so involved in the game that I tend to be the loudest on the court. I am constantly urging my teammates on, and when things go well I don’t hold back on celebrating.”
Khutso Letsoalo is the team’s most seasoned campaigner. It is the fourth time she will be competing at a USSA Tournament. Her position is the libero. It is relatively new in volleyball. A libero is allowed to play backcourt only.
The Tuks men’s indoor volleyball team is hoping for a top eight and if things go well on the court a top four position at USSA’s.
Many would be upset to be called the “big ugly” but Andrew van Rensburg does not mind. For him, it is a badge of honour as it means during every game he gets to be in the thick of things.
“We as the ‘big uglies’ are perceived to be the meanest guys on the court. Blocking and spiking."
It is hard to see Van Rensburg in the role as an on-court aggressor because his appearance is that of a mild-mannered guy, but then again looks can be deceiving.
“I guess you can say being one of the ‘big uglies’ is a bit like 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'. The moment the ball goes up in the air I undergo a personality change. The only thing that matters is to score as often as possible and to prevent the opposition from doing so. It gets to be quite an adrenaline rush.”
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